Meet our 2021 EY Young Tax Professional of the Year finalists

Yannick is the finalist from Belgium. He has been working as a junior corporate tax consultant in the EY Ghent office since August 2021, following the completion of his Master of Taxation from the University of Ghent in June 2020. When not busy with EY work, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and other friends, and is passionate about sports-oriented activities like football, cycling, and running. When he was in school, he says he often worked as an educator and coach for children, which was very rewarding.

Shiraz recently joined the EY office in Toronto, working on tax compliance with capital markets and technology sector clients. This fits perfectly with her career aspirations of merging her “passion for tax and technology” and developing into a transformational leader. Prior to joining EY, she worked as a business technology consultant for pharmaceutical, healthcare, distribution and professional services organizations. She’s working on a Master of Taxation and her CPA at the University of Waterloo. She enjoys painting, dancing and traveling, and has been to 20 countries. 

Linda, based in Colombia, recently graduated as a lawyer from Del Rosario University with minors in Commercial Law and Tax Law. During her time there, she was a member of the University’s tax clinic. Linda is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Commercial Law while working at the EY office in Bogota. She joined EY in 2019 as an intern and is now part of the Business Tax Advisory team. Previously, she worked as a legal assistant at a firm that serves the oil and gas sector. She aspires to work in the entertainment, technology or sports industry on the tax or business side. A former gymnast, Linda is a fan of musical theater and plays the saxophone and the piano. She enjoys building Lego, doing jigsaw puzzles and running.

Dionigi is the finalist representing Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. He completed his law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo in July 2021. He is working with the EY Law team in the Dominican Republic while doing a master’s degree in Business Law at ADEN International Business School. Before joining EY, he served as head of the claims and legal department at an insurance agency. Dionigi is a sports enthusiast. Despite being a fan of football for as long as he can remember, he has recently taken up volleyball and is loving it. Fun fact: he was born in Italy, moved to Cuba as a toddler and is now living in the Dominican Republic. 

Maija is pursuing an MSc in Economics and Business Administration at Aalto University School of Business in Finland. She is working for a tax technology company with a mission to revolutionize transfer pricing by automating documentation and introducing advanced analytics tools. She says it’s a thrilling place to be. She describes herself as “a bit of a foodie” who loves searching for delicious new flavors locally and in her travels. In the summertime, she enjoys sailing and “visiting the beautiful Finnish archipelago.” During the winter, you can find her cross-country skiing “as much as possible.”

Henrico Gustav Mikhail, based in the Philippines, is the EY Global Delivery Services (GDS) finalist, representing GDS professionals from Argentina, India and the Philippines. He is currently working toward a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila, studying under the STAR Scholarship program, a scholastic scholarship given to the top 20 students at DLSU. He loves the outdoors, going for adventures and sports. Since the pandemic started, he has discovered the fun in watching sitcoms, medical dramas and action films. 

Abraham completed studies for his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Ghana in September. The bachelor’s program gave him the opportunity to study courses outside of accounting, including finance, taxation, marketing, HR and public administration which broadened his understanding of the challenges companies face. With a pair of internships under his belt, Abraham is now completing Ghana’s mandatory year of national service. After that, he hopes to get a job at one of the Big Four firms. During his spare time, he enjoys catching up on sports news and watching movies and science documentaries. He also says he values a good upbringing, and therefore helps teach kids as a volunteer at his church as well as in the community.

Urja holds a Master of Commerce degree from Mumbai University in India and is a chartered accountant. She has been with the EY Transactions Tax team in Mumbai for over two years, working on assignments for both private equities and multinational corporations. She believes that her perseverance, curiosity and ability to think on her feet helps her do well at work, and credits “some of the most inspiring and enriching” mentors for her work-related successes. She loves activities where she can be creative like graphic design and calligraphy, and loves to dance. She also cofounded an online personalized gifting platform where they curate and deliver gifts across India.

Matteo has a degree in Economics and Management from LUISS University in Rome and is expected to finish his MSc in December in Accounting and Financial Management and Control at Bocconi University in Milan. He has an international education, having completed student exchange programs at HEC Paris and Tulane University. He’s also attended tax law courses at four universities in three countries, including Paris (France), Milan and Rome (Italy), and New Orleans (United States). A former rugby player for 11 years, he also enjoys reading, watching movies and playing football. 

Eleni-Lydia is the finalist from Luxembourg. She obtained her Bachelor of Law in Greece and her Master of Law in Luxembourg, specializing in International and European Tax Law. Along the way she worked as a trainee lawyer in the legal department of a Greek bank and at UNESCO in Paris. Before joining the EY Luxembourg team, she was employed as a junior tax associate in an international law firm, and that experience showed her the type of environment she hopes to have a career in. Her favorite pastimes include working with animals and helping children get closer to nature. She volunteers weekends at her local animal shelter and also enjoys movies and theater.

Viviana graduated in June 2020 with a BSc in International Public Accounting from CETYS University in Tijuana, Mexico. She is on the EY Global Compliance & Reporting team in Tijuana, preparing and reviewing tax obligations for multinational clients operating in Mexico. She plans to pursue a master’s degree while working as a tax consultant to get the most from classroom lessons and real-world experiences. Working alongside other EY teams, Viviana hopes to play a role in helping clients understand the changing tax legislation landscape and manage risks. She participated in an intercultural leadership exchange with the United Nations and has volunteered with a legal aid group that helps immigrants return to their home countries. She enjoys art expositions, visiting vineyards and being a “tourist” in her own city. 

Faithful is working on his Bachelor of Law at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He has also completed online courses in accounting, business law and business management from different institutions. He hopes to have a career in tax, being interested in areas such as transfer pricing, tax advisory, tax litigation and tax compliance. Faithful’s activities include tax club, serving as president of the literary and debate club, and head of Faculty of Law Chamber Support Force. He also belongs to the Headfort Foundation, an organization that works to support inmates and ex-inmates in Nigeria. When relaxing, he likes watching animations and football, singing, reading and just being with friends.

Jawhar, from Oman, is one of four finalists representing the Middle East and North Africa region. She completed her BSc in International Business and Finance from the University of Reading in England in 2020 and now works with the EY Indirect Tax team in Muscat. She is also pursuing the Oman VAT Diploma qualification but says the field of mergers and acquisitions also holds her interest. On the weekends, she can often be found on some type of outdoor adventure like running, cycling, swimming and aerial sports. To wind down, she reads fiction novels and self-help books. She has volunteered at a local school, helping children with their reading and writing. 

Yulia is the finalist from Russia. She is a lawyer and is studying for her Masters in Law degree at MGIMO University in Moscow, but she is interested in economics as well. She has had several internships in global firms working in the oil and gas sector but would like to pursue a career in tax. In summer, she rides bike and plays tennis twice a week. Other interests include baking cakes and pies, architecture, supporting charities and traveling.

Hithalli is a 2021 graduate of Nanyang Technological University with a double major in Economics and Public Policy and Global Affairs. She joined the EY office in Singapore, working with the transfer pricing team, after a series of internships gave her an interest in the field. She envisions a two-pronged career allowing her “to stay in touch with both the theoretical aspects of tax and economics, and the real-world applications.” Born in India, she trained for eight years in Indian classical dance and also plays the ukulele. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Singapore’s scenic hiking trails.

Carolina’s interest in “the economy as a tool to improve people’s quality of life” led her to pursue dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Law at ISDE Madrid. A year studying abroad in Japan gave her an international perspective she finds invaluable. She owns two motorcycles – one for the road and one for off-road – and turns to mountain sports, including hiking, skiing and trail running, to clear her mind. She loves business books and biographies, as well as music, having played the piano since childhood. The chance to “learn from some of the best” brought her to EY.

Christoffer aspires to improve people’s lives via tax legislation. He’s nearing the completion of his Master of Laws (LLM) at Uppsala University in Sweden and is currently writing his thesis in international taxation. The subject, he says, is the dividend article in the OECD model convention with special regard to beneficial ownership under share loan agreements. He previously worked at the Swedish Tax Agency and a bank during summer breaks. His hobbies include golf and computer games. He’s even competed semiprofessionally in esports, with his most success coming in the card game Hearthstone.

Elias, from Tanzania, is representing Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. He has a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and is working on his MBA, both from the University of Dar es Salaam. He joined the EY team in Tanzania as an intern in 2020 after becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and received an employment offer this past September. He attended Makutupora Military Camp for three months as part of national service, and in his spare time, he enjoys reading novels and playing video games.

Gülce, the finalist from Turkey, earned a Bachelor of Laws from Bilkent University last year and is now working toward a Master of Laws in Economics at Galatasaray University in Istanbul. After completing a yearlong legal internship affiliated to the Ankara Bar Association, she received a license to practice law in Turkey in September 2021. The internship mainly focused on commercial and corporate law, contract law and data protection law in Turkey. In her spare time, Gülce enjoys learning to play the piano with help from online tutorials, dancing, spinning and hiking. 

Lauren, the finalist representing the United States, is a senior at Cornell University studying Human Development, with minors in Law and Society, and Inequality Studies. She has been working part-time for a small investing startup for over a year while finishing her degree. It has given her business development, marketing and project management experience as well as exposure to the “entrepreneurial spirit.” After Lauren graduates this December, she will join the EY People Advisory Services team in New York. The youngest of five children, she says demonstrating care and sincerity helps drive her relationships. Another passion is the mental health space, for which she started a company in 2020, designing and selling clothing that raised awareness of the importance of empathy and mental health.